A 65-year-old homeless man is astounded by the generosity and support shown to him and his dog, Jake, in Williams Lake.

Up until last Saturday evening Brian Owen had been living in his pickup truck in city limits.

But when temperatures began dipping to near the -30 C mark and a Williams Lake resident and her husband expressed concern for his wellbeing on social media, a chain of events transpired resulting in him being housed in a local motel and being reunited with his half sister on Vancouver Island.

B次元官网网址淚t wasnB次元官网网址檛 something I was even remotely considering happening,B次元官网网址� said Owen, who grew up and attended school in Williams Lake before moving away to the Lower Mainland for school in the 1970s.

B次元官网网址淲hen Christine [Habsburg] and Marcel [Habsburg] showed up I had a certain amount I could maybe get a hotel room with and get a weekly rate for this cold spell. But they came along and said theyB次元官网网址檇 arranged to have a hotel room for a couple nights for me and I was blown away. I was reluctant to accept it at first.B次元官网网址�

In the meantime, ChristineB次元官网网址檚 Facebook post went viral locally. Donations began pouring in which, by Tuesday afternoon, had reached above $1,700, along with clothing, groceries, meals and dog food.

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OwenB次元官网网址檚 half sister living on Vancouver Island also saw the post, and reached out to Christine to see if he would be willing to come and live with her at her home.

B次元官网网址淭he last time I saw her in person was 25 years ago,B次元官网网址� Owen said.

B次元官网网址淲e had talked in 2007 by phone, but that was the last time IB次元官网网址檇 talked to her. She had lymphatic cancer and she didnB次元官网网址檛 want to take the treatments. I wasnB次元官网网址檛 sure if she would survive, but she did.B次元官网网址�

Owen arrived in Williams Lake at the end of July from Alberta looking for work and a place to live, and said he always loved the area and considered it home.

While attempting to save money, on top of a small, reduced pension for some necessary repairs to the truck which he was living in, Owen was unsuccessful in finding work.

In early December the insurance on his truck expired.

B次元官网网址淚 was looking for a place to rent, but with Jake we werenB次元官网网址檛 able to get any subsidized housing,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭here were places, but they are $700 to $750 a month and on a $960 pension that doesnB次元官网网址檛 leave much for anything else.B次元官网网址�

Over the last six months Owen has been utilizing the Salvation Army for meals and showers, and the local library and thrift stores for books to keep him occupied.

Owen and his canine companion, an 11-year-old border collie, have been inseparable since Owen got him when he was a puppy in Calgary.

When he found out how much the community had donated to help him, he was in shock.

B次元官网网址淣ow I just hope I can get my truck in to get repairs in the next couple of days and get to the Island to see my sister,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚 just want to thank everyone so much,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 greatly appreciated, and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 expecting so much. People have been coming down, dropping off food, clothes and things to help me get my truck back on the road to get down to my sisterB次元官网网址檚 place.B次元官网网址�

Christine, meanwhile, said the community should be commended.

B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 contributed above and beyond,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 think heB次元官网网址檚 a very proud man who has encountered some very unfortunate circumstances, and IB次元官网网址檓 so glad we caught him at the beginning of this cold snap.B次元官网网址�

Habsburg said the donated money will be used to repair the manB次元官网网址檚 windshield, a fan and, possibly, brakes.

B次元官网网址淎ll I did was state that a man needed warmth and all of these beautiful souls stepped up and made this small miracle possible,B次元官网网址� she said.

B次元官网网址淭hey deserve the credit for all of this. IB次元官网网址檓 brought to tears at their kindness and generosity.B次元官网网址�

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